Against Requisitioning Boats Used for State Corvee Duty:
"If a private individual makes for himself a boat with its on-board
shelter, in order to be able to serve Pharaoh, l.p.h., and if people] of the
army [come and appropriate it as if it were for (?)] taxes: then the individual
is despoiled of his property and deprived of his abundant means [of doing service.
This is a crime!] Something like this should not
be done [to controvert] his good purposes. As for every boat which is taxable
for the offering halls of Pharaoh, l.p.h., by the two deputies [of the army] …,
[if someone comes] and seizes a boat belonging to any member of the army or
anybody in the entire land, let the law be applied to
him by cutting off his nose and sending him to Tcharu {Tharu}. [As for]
an individual who is without a boat, and he gets from someone else a boat for
his service obligation, and undertakes on his own to bring wood and is thus
fulfilling his obligations [to Pharaoh, l.p.h., …]: [should others] seize and
plunder his cargo, and steal it, and the individual stands despoiled of his
[means of doing service … so that] he has nothing—This is not good, this
report: it is an abuse indeed! My Person had decreed that one should turn away
from it. Indeed, [this applies to …, and to] those who contribute to the
Private Quarters, and similarly to all the gods’ offerings when they are taxed
by the two deputies of the army and …: [if anyone does this, let] the law [be applied] against him by cutting off his nose and
sending him to Tcharu {Tharu}." (Horemheld’s great edict, 108.
Edict from Karnak, Texts from the Amarna Period in Egypt (Vol. 5). W. J.
Murnane, , E. S. Meltz, p235, 1995 AD)

Arish was the eastern border town of Egypt where criminals
with their noses cut off were sent at the time of Joshua.

ARISH PRISON CAMP: Nose cut off
and exiled to the border

The fact that Arish was an Egyptian prison town from
the time of the Exodus down to Paul, is utterly devastating
to those who say the Sinai was not Egypt proper. The port city of
Arish was in fact the far eastern border of Egypt at the Wadi el-Arish. It
always has been. Any Mt. Sinai located in the Sinai Peninsula is impossible
because the entire Peninsula was "inside Egypt" and under Egyptian
control. Only a Mt. Sinai in Arabia, on the other side of the Gulf of Aqaba
is outside Egypt entirely.

The Wadi el-Arish flows into the Mediterranean Sea at
Arish. Arish was called Tharu in 1446 BC and Rhinocolura [lit:
cut off nose] in 100 BC.

1348-1320 BC: "my majesty commands: that every
officer who seizes the dues] and taketh the craft of any citizen of the
army or of any person who is in the whole land, the law shall be executed
against him, in that his nose shall be cut off,
and he shall be sent to Tharu. (James Henry Breasted, Ancient
Records of Egypt, 1906 AD, Vol 3 p 50-67, The
Great Edict of Pharaoh Horemheb, 1300 BC)

Against Requisitioning Boats Used for State Corvee Duty:
"If a private individual makes for himself a boat with its on-board
shelter, in order to be able to serve Pharaoh, l.p.h., and if people] of
the army [come and appropriate it as if it were for (?)] taxes: then the
individual is despoiled of his property and deprived of his abundant means
[of doing service. This is a crime!]
Something like this should not be done [to controvert] his good purposes.
As for every boat which is taxable for the offering halls of Pharaoh,
l.p.h., by the two deputies [of the army] …, [if someone comes] and seizes
a boat belonging to any member of the army or anybody in the entire land, let the law be applied to him by cutting off his nose
and sending him to Tcharu {Tharu}. [As for] an individual who is
without a boat, and he gets from someone else a boat for his service
obligation, and undertakes on his own to bring wood and is thus fulfilling
his obligations [to Pharaoh, l.p.h., …]: [should others] seize and plunder
his cargo, and steal it, and the individual stands despoiled of his [means
of doing service … so that] he has nothing—This is not good, this report:
it is an abuse indeed! My Person had decreed that one should turn away
from it. Indeed, [this applies to …, and to] those who contribute to the
Private Quarters, and similarly to all the gods’ offerings when they are
taxed by the two deputies of the army and …: [if anyone does this, let] the law [be applied] against him by cutting off his nose
and sending him to Tcharu {Tharu}." (Horemheld’s great edict,
108. Edict from Karnak, Texts from the Amarna Period in Egypt (Vol. 5). W.
J. Murnane, , E. S. Meltz, p235, 1995 AD)

15 AD: "Next to Gaza is Raphia, where a battle was
fought between Ptolemy the Fourth and Antiochus the Great. [218 BC] Then
Rhinocolura, so called from the colonists, whose noses had been mutilated.
Some Ethiopian invaded Egypt, and, instead
of putting the malefactors to death, cut off their noses, and settled them
at Rhinocolura, supposing that they would not venture to return to their
own country, on account of the disgraceful condition of their faces."
(Strabo, Geogr. 16.2.31, reporting event in 218 BC)

His majesty took counsel with his heart [how he might] .... [exp]el evil and
suppress lying. The plans of his majesty were an excellent refuge, repelling
violence behind ...... [and delivering the Egyptians from the oppressions]
which were among them. Behold, his majesty spent the whole time seeking the
welfare of Egypt and searching out instances [of oppression in the land]. .... [came
the scribe] of his majesty. Then he seized palette and roll; he put it into
writing according to all that his majesty, the king himself said. He spoke as
follows: "[My majesty] commands ... [concerning all] instances of
oppression in the land.

Enactment Against Robbing the Poor of Dues for the Royal Breweries and
Kitchens.

If the poor man made for himself a craft with its sail, in order to be able to
serve the Pharaoh, L.P.H., [loading it with the dues for the breweries and the
kitchens of the Pharaoh, and he was robbed of the craft and] the dues, the poor
man stood reft of his goods and stripped of his many labors. This is wrong, and
the Pharaoh will suppress it by his excellent measures. If there be a [poor
man] who pays the dues of the breweries and kitchens of the Pharaoh, L.P.H., to
the two deputies, [and he be robbed of his goods and his craft, my majesty
commands: that every officer who seizes the dues] and taketh the craft of any
citizen of the army or of any person who is in the whole land, the law shall be
executed against him, in that his nose shall be cut
off, and he shall be sent to Tharu.

Against Robbing the Poor of Wood Due the Pharaoh

[Furthermore, concerning the impost of wood, my majesty commands that if any
officer find] a poor man without a craft, then let him bring to him a craft for
his impost from another, and let him send him to bring for him the wood; thus
he shall serve [the Pharaoh].

Against Exacting Dues from a Poor Man thus Robbed

[Furthermore, my majesty commands that if any poor man be oppressed by]
[robbe]ry, his cargo be emptied by theft of them, and the poor man stand reft
of hi[s good]s, [no further exactions for dues shall be made from him] when he
has nothing. For it is not good, this report of very great injustice. My
majesty commands that restitution be made to him; behold .... .

Against Robbing the Poor of Dues for the Harem or the Gods by the Soldiers

[Furthermore, as for those who] ... and those who bring to the harem, likewise
for the offerings of all gods, paying dues to the two deputies of the army and
... [my majesty commands that if any officer is guilty of extortions or
thefts], the law [shall be executed] against him, in that his nose shall be cut off, and (he) shall be sent to Tharu
likewise.

Against Unlawful Appropriation of Slave Service

When the officers of the Pharaoh's house of offerings have gone about
tax-collecting in the towns, to take [katha-plant], [they have seized the
slaves of the people, and kept them at work] for 6 days or 7 days, without
one's being able to depart from them afar, so that it was an excessive
detention indeed. It shall be done likewise against them. If there be any place
[where the stewards shall be tax-collecting, and any one] shall hear, saying:
"They are tax-collecting, to take katha-plant for themselves," and
another shall come to report, saying: "My man slave (or) my female slave
has been taken away [and detained many days at work by the stewards;" it
shall be done likewise against them.]

Against Stealing of Hides by the Soldiers

The two divisions of troops which are in the field, one in the southern region,
the other in the northern region, stole hides in the whole land, not passing a
year, without applying the brand of [the royal house to cattle which were not due
to them, thereby increasing] their number, and stealing that which was stamped
from them. They went out from house to house, beating and plundering without
leaving a hide for the people .... Then the officer] of the Pharaoh went about
to each one, [to collect the hides charged against him and came to the people
demanding] them, but the hides were not found with them (although) the amount
charged against them could be established. They satisfied them, saying:
"They have been stolen from us." A wretched case is this, therefore
it shall be [done] likewise.

When the overseer of the cattle of Pharaoh, L.P.H., goes about to attend to the
loan-herds in the whole land, and there be not brought to him the hides of the
... which are on the lists, [he shall not hold the people responsible for the
hides if they have them not, but they shall be released by command of his
majesty] according to his just purposes. As for any citizen of the army,
(concerning) whom one shall hear, saying: "He goeth about stealing hides,"
beginning with this day, the law shall be executed against him, by beating him a hundred blows, opening five wounds,
and taking from him by force the hides which he took.

Against Connivance of Dishonest Inspectors with Thievish Tax-Collectors, for
a Share of the Booty

Now, as for the other instance of evil which the [official staff were
accustomed to commit, when they held inspection] in the land, of that which
happened [against the law], [the table-scribe of] the queen and the
table-scribe of the harem went about after the official staff, punishing them
and investigating their affair ...... of the one who sailed down-or up-river.
One investigated it among the officials in the time of the King Menkheperre
(Tuthmosis III). Now, when the one who sailed down-or up-river whom they took;
and when [the superior officials of] [the king], Menkheperre, went about [after
these officials] each year, [that they might make an] expedition to the city,
and that these superior officials might come to these officials, saying:
"Give thou [to us] the consideration for the careless expedition;"
then, behold, the Pharaoh, L.P.H., made the expedition at the feast of Opet
each year without carelessness. One prepared the way before the Pharaoh [and
questioned the local magistrate, wherever he] landed, [concerning the corrupt
official] causing him to ......what he (the corrupt official) was like. As for
one who goes about again, afterward, to seek the consideration ......, then
these officials shall go about with the expedition concerning the affairs of
these poor people ...... My majesty commands to prevent that one shall do thus,
beginning with this day ..... the landing; he is the one against whom one shall
prosecute it.

Against Stealing Vegetables Under Pretense of Collecting Taxes

Likewise the collection of vegetables for the breweries [and kitchens of the
Pharaoh and] ..... [Extortion was practiced, and the officials plundered] the
poor, taking the best of their vegetables, saying: "They are for the
impost [of the Pharaoh]." [Thus they] robbed the poor of their labors, so
that a double [impost was levied. Now, my majesty commands that as for any
officials who come to] collect vegetables [for] the impost of Pharaoh, L.P.H.,
in the arbors, and the .... houses of the estates of Pharaoh, L.P.H., and the
... of Pharaoh which contain vegetables, (concerning whom) one shall hear,
saying: "They ... for any ... of any citizen of the army, or [any] people,
[beginning with this day, the law shall be executed against them] ...... transgressing
commands.

Enactments Too Fragmentary for Analysis

Now as far as these officials of the herds, who go about ...... in the southern
region or the northern region collecting grain from the [citizens] of the city
.... going about .... in the southern region or northern region collecting ...
from the poor ... .

......... going about taking possession to bring every citizen, to cause them
to see ... (concerning whom) one shall hear, (saying) ".... a crime, ....
collection of the harem who go about in the [towns tax-collecting] ...... the
... of the fishermen .... carrying the ..... .

Narratives of the King's Reforms, Containing also an Enactment against
Corrupt Judges

Appointment of Two Judges

I have improved this entire land ...... I have sailed it, as far as south of
the wall, I have given ..., I have learned its whole interior, I have traveled
it entirely in its midst, I have searched in .... [and I have sought two
officials] perfect in speech, excellent in good qualities, knowing how to judge
the innermost heart, hearing the words of the palace, the laws of the
judgment-hall. I have appointed them to judge the Two Lands, to satisfy those
who are in ...... . [I have given to each one] his seat; I have set them in the
two great cities of the South and the North; every land among them cometh to
him without exception; I have put before them regulations in the daily register
[of the palace] ........ I have directed [them] to the way of life; I led them
to the truth, I teach them, saying: "Do not associate with others of the
people; do not receive the reward of another, not hearing .... . How, then,
shall those like you judge others, while there is one among you committing a
crime against justice.

Now, as to the obligation of silver and gold ....... [my] majesty remits it, in
order that there be not collected an obligation of anything from the official
staff of the South and North.

Punishment of Bribery

Now, as for any official or any priest (concerning whom) it shall be heard,
saying: "He sits, to execute judgment among the official staff appointed
for judgment, and he commits a crime against justice therein;" it shall be
against him a capital crime. Behold, my majesty has done this, to improve the
laws of Egypt, in order to cause that another should not be ........... .

Appointment of Local Courts

[Behold, my majesty appointed] the official staff of the divine fathers, the
prophets of the temples, the officials of the court of this land and the
priests of the gods who comprise the official staff out of desire that they
shall judge the citizens of every city. My majesty is legislating for Egypt, to
prosper the life of its inhabitants; when he appeared upon the throne of Re.
Behold, the official staffs have been appointed in the whole land ... all ...
to comprise the official staffs in the cities according to their rank.

The King's Audiences and Largesses

.... They went around ... times a month, which he [made] for them like a feast;
every man set down at a portion of every good thing, of good bread, and meat of
the storehouses, of royal provision .....; their voices reached heaven,
praising all benefits ... the heart of all the soldiers of the army. [The king
appeared to the people] ... throwing (gifts) to them from the balcony while
every man was called by his name by the king himself. They came forth from the
presence rejoicing, laden with the provision of the royal house; yea, they too
[grain-heaps] in the granary, every one of them [bore] barley and spelt, there
was not found one who had nothing .... their cities. [If they did not complete
the circuit therein within three days, [....] their khetkhet-officers hastened
after them to the place where they were immediately. They were found there
.....

Laudation of the King and Conclusion

Hear ye these commands which my majesty has made for the first time governing
the whole land, when my majesty remembered these cases of oppression which
occur before this land.